Sarah Drew on Mistletoe Murders Season 2 and the Power of Storytelling

In Hallmark’s Mistletoe Murders, Sarah Drew shines as Emily Lane, a charming small-town shop owner whose warmth and wit hide a past she’d rather keep buried. The series, based on the global Audible hit, returns for Season 2 on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark+, blending holiday coziness with a sophisticated dose of mystery. Drew, who also serves as executive producer, talks with us about deepening Emily’s story, finding balance between heart and suspense, and what keeps her inspired as both an artist and a mother.

Let’s start by getting right into Mistletoe Murders! Season 1 introduced audiences to Fletcher’s Grove and the mystery surrounding Emily Lane’s double life. Without giving away too much, how does Season 2 raise the stakes for Emily, both emotionally and in the mysteries she faces?

We pick up right where we left off with Sam, and it becomes clear that as much as Sam wants to know about Emily’s true identity, she isn’t willing to share that piece of herself with him, or anyone. She’s feeling more and more at home in this town, and the more entrenched she becomes in Fletcher’s Grove, the higher the stakes are for her to protect it and the community there.

We will learn a lot more about her backstory through some really fun flashbacks that cover quite a few years of her life. We will also find ourselves caring more deeply about the victims this season because they all really mean something to the characters we have grown to know and love. The love story this season is also much deeper and more layered. Even when Sam and Emily fight, we feel the heat and attraction between them. If you liked season one, you’re gonna go bananas for season 2!

What new dynamics or relationships can fans look forward to this season? Will we learn more about Emily’s secret past?

I think I answered that question above. Yes. We will learn more about her past, and we will feel a deepening in the Sam and Emily relationship. We will also get a LOT more of Famous Ray this season, and the friendship that builds between him and Emily is one of my favorite pieces of this season.

The series blends cozy holiday charm with suspenseful, almost noir storytelling. How do you maintain that balance without losing the Hallmark heart?

Ken Cuperas does a tremendous job of melding these two beloved genres in a way that gives you all the cozy feels but also keeps you guessing and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I think at the heart of the show is Emily’s search for home. She lost her home when she was small, when she lost her parents, and she’s been through quite a journey to find her way to a place she can call home, so even as she searches for the truth and runs from her past, her heart is always moving toward home, which I think is one of the most beautiful themes of the Christmas genre.

Mistletoe Murders began as a hit Audible podcast. Has the source material continued to influence the tone or structure of the TV adaptation as the story evolves?

I think we all really gave ourselves the freedom to make this show its own thing. We aren’t trying to recreate the characters or the specific tone, but the overall feel is still consistent with the audible series. There’s a lot we can do visually that sets the show apart from the audible series, and our DoP Justin Black has created such a moody and unique visual vibe to the series.

The small-town setting, “Under the Mistletoe,” feels almost like a character itself. How has that world expanded in Season 2?

Each of our three mysteries this season have their own specific feel. The first is set at Violet’s school, so we get a window into high school life in Fletcher’s Grove. The second involves the art world, and the third takes on the restaurant industry. All three feel super fun and specific to Fletcher’s Grove while also giving us an expansion of the world we’ve already seen in season 1.

As both star and executive producer, how hands-on are you in shaping the show’s creative direction? Can you share a moment where your behind-the-scenes input made it to the screen?

My main contribution as EP is giving notes and thoughts on the scripts and then on the cuts once the edits are put together. I find myself often contributing to the romantic thread in the story, as that is where my specific passion and strength lie. Ken is such a mystery genius that I find I almost never find a plot hole or have anything helpful to add to the mystery aspect of the show, but I am VERY passionate about the Emily and Sam journey. We are such a collaborative team, and I always feel like my ideas are valued tremendously, and it’s always exciting to see one of my ideas make it onto the screen.

Emily is described as “smart, tough, and observant,” but also kind and empathetic. How do you navigate those layers: the detective instinct versus her vulnerability?

I think her empathy is what drives her to get to the bottom of every mystery. It’s because she cares so deeply for the people who have been hurt that she will be tough and do what it takes to get to the truth, even if it means bending the truth or the law at times.

What aspect of Emily Lane do you personally relate to the most, and what part of her feels furthest from who you are?

I am not remotely adept at puzzles, so I think I would fail miserably at all of the sleuthing that Emily is so good at. I also get very angry at technology - so much so that my husband often tells me to just walk away from the computer when it isn’t doing what it should be doing. I do not have tech patience at all, so we differ in that regard as well. I think we share a deeply empathetic heart, and sense of humor, and a deep desire to do the right thing. She can also get into the zone when she’s fixated on a project or a problem, and I do the same thing.

If you could give Emily one piece of advice heading into Season 2, what would it be?

Come on, girl. He’s so wonderful. Just tell him the truth. Let him in.

The show’s mystery-meets-holiday tone is quite fresh for Hallmark. What inspired that direction, and what has the response been like from viewers?

The response has been incredible. Fans are absolutely loving the merging of these two beloved genres. It’s been SO much fun reading the comments. As to what inspired the direction, you would have to ask Ken Cuperas, as this whole thing is his brainchild. It’s a genius idea, and he’s executed it brilliantly.

How does producing Mistletoe Murders compare to your past producing and writing experiences, like Reindeer Games Homecoming, or A Cowboy Christmas Romance?

Because I’m not a writer on this show, it’s a very different experience from the other projects I’ve produced. I get to focus on specific strengths I have, and on my role as a leader on set, instead of trying to keep absolutely every aspect of the whole production in my brain all at once, and that is freeing. I can focus on Emily, and on the pieces of the story that I can add something to to make it extra yummy. It’s deeply gratifying. 

Having directed and written projects yourself, do you ever find it hard to “turn off” the producer’s brain while acting?

There are elements of my producer brain that I think have always been a part of me from a very young age, so I think I’ve merged my actor brain with my producer brain in many ways. For instance, when we are blocking a scene, I’m always aware of  the continuity - where we are coming from and where we are going to. I think about props and I think about blocking. I’ve never been an actress who just blindly walks from point A to point B because a director told me to. Everything has to make sense in order for me to play the scene, so I’ve always used my voice and collaborated in every scene. Now and again, I will say something to someone and then chastise myself with “not my job, Sarah!” I think I’ve always had a holistic approach to whatever project I’m a part of.

You’ve had such a rich career! From Dr. April Kepner in Grey’s Anatomy to Cindy Turner in Cruel Summer, Hannah Rogers in Everwood, and now Emily Lane in Mistletoe Murders. What draws you most to a story or role at this stage in your journey?

I think the greatest desire of my heart– the moments when I feel most like I’m living into my purpose– is when I’m telling stories that allow people to feel less alone. In all of the stories I tell, and the characters I portray, I want the audience to feel like they are seen, and loved, and that they belong. I want the stories I tell to be a salve in a chaotic and challenging world. When someone tells me that the pain in their hearts was eased a bit because of a story I told, it makes my heart soar.

You’re also set to portray Hedda Hopper in Jimmy, opposite Jason Alexander and KJ Apa. What excites you about stepping into that world, and how does that differ from your Hallmark persona?

Playing Hedda was a true delight. I cannot wait to see this film come together. Stepping into the old Hollywood glitz and glamor to tell a very deep and real story about a man struggling with his sense of identity and purpose in a very uncertain time was such a gift and honor to be able to do.  Hedda is a very different character than I’ve played in a long time, and it was so much fun to stretch a very different muscle with her. She is most definitely not a Hallmark Leading Lady, although I bet she really would have wanted to be.

Finally, when you’re not helping to solve on-screen mysteries or producing heartfelt films, what moments bring you the most joy these days in your everyday life?

Honestly, hanging in my house with my family. I’m gone so much that I really relish my time at home. My kids are so much fun. They are hilarious people and have so many delightful interests. My daughter sings ALL the time in the house, and often my son will join in with her from another room while he’s editing or building some prop or costume piece. I love watching them perform, and I love seeing them grow and develop. My husband and I often just look at each other while we are being serenaded in the house and just grin from ear to ear at the simple joy of being together.